This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6991119.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Scottish sheep tested for disease | Scottish sheep tested for disease |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's chief vet has confirmed that a sheep from Perthshire which was due to be slaughtered in England is being tested for foot-and-mouth. | Scotland's chief vet has confirmed that a sheep from Perthshire which was due to be slaughtered in England is being tested for foot-and-mouth. |
| Charles Milnes said the animal was part of a batch of 131 sheep dispatched to the South of England. | Charles Milnes said the animal was part of a batch of 131 sheep dispatched to the South of England. |
| Officials are preparing to carry out tests at the Perthshire farm where the animal originated from. | Officials are preparing to carry out tests at the Perthshire farm where the animal originated from. |
| Mr Milnes stressed that although the animal's symptoms were a concern, tests were still at an early stage. | Mr Milnes stressed that although the animal's symptoms were a concern, tests were still at an early stage. |
| A movement ban on livestock was reinstated on Wednesday after confirmation of a new case of foot-and-mouth at a farm in Surrey. | A movement ban on livestock was reinstated on Wednesday after confirmation of a new case of foot-and-mouth at a farm in Surrey. |
| Despite the ban, permission has been given for the only livestock sale in the UK to take place in Dingwall after animal welfare concerns were expressed. | Despite the ban, permission has been given for the only livestock sale in the UK to take place in Dingwall after animal welfare concerns were expressed. |
| If it is the same strain as the previous outbreak, that gives us an idea that hopefully this may be contained in the Surrey area Richard LochheadSecretary for rural affairs | If it is the same strain as the previous outbreak, that gives us an idea that hopefully this may be contained in the Surrey area Richard LochheadSecretary for rural affairs |
| There has also been some relaxation of the ban in Scotland for animals moving direct to slaughter and for milking. | There has also been some relaxation of the ban in Scotland for animals moving direct to slaughter and for milking. |
| The news of the confirmed case in Egham, Surrey comes just a week after Britain was declared free of the disease. | The news of the confirmed case in Egham, Surrey comes just a week after Britain was declared free of the disease. |
| Preliminary tests indicated that the strain was the same as that found in the county last month. | Preliminary tests indicated that the strain was the same as that found in the county last month. |
| A suspected case of the disease in Lanark turned out to be negative, but livestock producers have been warned by the Animal Health Agency to be vigilant. | A suspected case of the disease in Lanark turned out to be negative, but livestock producers have been warned by the Animal Health Agency to be vigilant. |
| Scotland's secretary for rural affairs and the environment, Richard Lochhead, said work was continuing to establish the likelihood of the disease spreading from the Egham farm in Surrey. | Scotland's secretary for rural affairs and the environment, Richard Lochhead, said work was continuing to establish the likelihood of the disease spreading from the Egham farm in Surrey. |
| He said: "If it is the same strain as the previous outbreak, that gives us an idea that hopefully this may be contained in the Surrey area. | He said: "If it is the same strain as the previous outbreak, that gives us an idea that hopefully this may be contained in the Surrey area. |
| Disease outbreak | Disease outbreak |
| "But of course, we're not that far along yet and my job just now is to make sure that we can trace any cattle movement from the Surrey area to Scotland that may have occurred over the past few days and weeks." | "But of course, we're not that far along yet and my job just now is to make sure that we can trace any cattle movement from the Surrey area to Scotland that may have occurred over the past few days and weeks." |
| Farmers in the north of Scotland said news of the outbreak in England could not have come at a worse time as tens of thousands of sheep and cattle are normally shipped from island communities to the mainland in September and October. | Farmers in the north of Scotland said news of the outbreak in England could not have come at a worse time as tens of thousands of sheep and cattle are normally shipped from island communities to the mainland in September and October. |
| Animal welfare concerns led to a special exemption being given to Dingwall and Highland Marts to sell 3,500 lambs, sent for sale from the Western Isles. | Animal welfare concerns led to a special exemption being given to Dingwall and Highland Marts to sell 3,500 lambs, sent for sale from the Western Isles. |
| However, those lambs are only a fraction of the 17,000 that should have been auctioned on Thursday. | However, those lambs are only a fraction of the 17,000 that should have been auctioned on Thursday. |
| The marts' Kenny McKenzie said buyers would also have permission to transport the lambs from the sale. | The marts' Kenny McKenzie said buyers would also have permission to transport the lambs from the sale. |
| A centre in Lanark was sealed off as a precaution on Wednesday | A centre in Lanark was sealed off as a precaution on Wednesday |
| He said: "Today's sale is only for today. It is the only one in UK as far as we know, unless there are other marts in a similar position as ourselves. | He said: "Today's sale is only for today. It is the only one in UK as far as we know, unless there are other marts in a similar position as ourselves. |
| "Buyers can move the lambs on after today's sale, but only those from the islands can be moved to England." | "Buyers can move the lambs on after today's sale, but only those from the islands can be moved to England." |
| Another sale, due to take place on Friday at Thainstone Mart at Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, has also been given the go ahead on animal welfare grounds. | |
| However, the disease outbreak has led to the cancellation of the Dectomax Kelso Ram Sales in southern Scotland. | However, the disease outbreak has led to the cancellation of the Dectomax Kelso Ram Sales in southern Scotland. |
| More than 6,000 rams were set to be auctioned at the Springfield Park event on Friday. | More than 6,000 rams were set to be auctioned at the Springfield Park event on Friday. |
| Organisers said it was now "very unlikely" they would be able to hold the event at a later date this year. | Organisers said it was now "very unlikely" they would be able to hold the event at a later date this year. |
| Ron Wilson, secretary of the Border Union Agricultural Society, said the renewed restrictions would have a major impact. | Ron Wilson, secretary of the Border Union Agricultural Society, said the renewed restrictions would have a major impact. |
| "It is certainly a big blow for us but I think in the long-term it is a very serious blow for the farming industry," he said. | "It is certainly a big blow for us but I think in the long-term it is a very serious blow for the farming industry," he said. |
| "It is very serious for sheep and anything related to that." | "It is very serious for sheep and anything related to that." |